The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has recently directed the Odisha Chief Secretary of to pay Rs 1 lakh each as compensation to the two victims who were wrongly transfused HIV blood in 2016 at the VIMSAR in Burla. The NHRC has also asked the Chief Secretary submit the proof of payment within eight weeks.
The commission passed the order taking cognisance of a petition by human rights activist and lawyer Radhakanta Tripathy.
The NHRC had earlier directed the Health and Family Welfare Department to pay the compensation but the department authorities said they could disburse it as the victims address was to not found.
The commission asked the district Collectors of Sambalpur and Jharsuguda to publish notice in local newspapers in favour of the victims regarding the commission. Earlier, Tripathy had alleged to the a 70-year-old person hailing from Rairakhol was admitted to the surgery ward of VIMSAR on June 9, 2016. He had undergone operation on June 13, 2016.
Similarly, a 60-year-old person of Brajarajnagar was admitted to the hospital on June 12, 2016 for a leg surgery. Both of them were infected with HIV infected blood due to negligence of the doctors and staffs of the VIMSAR..
Later, following an inquiry a Medical Officer Dr Rajendra Pattnaik, Blood Bank in-charge Dr Susanta Kar, a Data Entry Operator and Lab Technician were suspended.